Bocker



(No Model.)

J. B. KNICKERBOGKER.

GAS METER.

Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

2 S-heets-Sheet 1.

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J. B. KNICKERBOGKBR.

GAS METER.

Patented Feb. 2,1892.

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514042444300 www M @kuh-9kb- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. KNIOKERBOOKER, OF'INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR -TO THE KNIOKERBOOKER METER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,008, dated February 2, 1892.

Application filed March 30, 1891. Serial No. 386,902. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KNICKER- BOCKER, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like figures refer to like lo parts.

My invention relates to the construction of devices for measuring the flow of gas or other fluids and will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my device. Fig. 2 is a central crosssection of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the yoke and spring mechanism.

In detail, 1 is the divided casing, having an zo inlet 2 and outlet 3, and a channel or passageway 4 for the gas leading from the inlet to the gaschamber and from thence to the outlet.

5 is the diaphragm secured between the halves of the casing and dividing the interior into the gas-chambers 6 and 7. .The diaphragm is composed of a central ilexible sheet with metal backing-plates S on either side thereof.

9 is a bolt, its lower end notched at 10 on each side to receive the bifurcated arms of the lever 11, which operates the registering mechanism. This bolt is threaded at its opposite end 12 and passes -through the diaphragm, and 13 is a nut which works thereon and is turned down against the base-plate of a shoe 14, holding the parts in place.

15 is the valve-rod, which passes loosely7 through the central opening of the bolt 9, and 16 is a double-valve mounted on one end of this rod, the flanges of the valve closing alternately the ports 17 and 1S 1n the casing.

19 are screw-plugs closing openings at the inlet and outlet ends of the casing for allowing access to the valves.

2O is the outlet-valve mounted on the opposite end of the rod 15, the liange of the valve being central upon its body and operating upon ports 21 and 22, as shown 1n F1g. 2.

n 23 is a spring mounted on the valve-rod and bearing against the collar 24 on the one side and the valve on the other, and 25 is a similar spring bearing against the opposite end of the valve and held in place by a nut 26 on the end of the rod, the object of the 55 nut and springs being to adjust the valves when first put in place. To the shoe-clamp 14 is pivoted the slotted arm 2S.

29 is an arm pivoted at 30 to the casing and provided with a boss 3l, which works in 6o a slot 34 in a block connected also to the casing, which limits the movement of the arm 29. This arm is pivoted below by a pin 83 to a yoke Si, whose arms straddle the e11- largement 35 of the valve-rod notched on 65 either side, the shoulders of the enlargement being beveled in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. l, to allow the angular movement of the yoke-arms 3l. The pin 33 passes through the slot in the arm 28, and has a head 3G, 7o which holds the slotted arm 28 in place between the head and the end of the yoke.

37 are coiled springs connected at their upper ends to projections on either side of the arm 29, the ends of the wire being bent around circular grooved heads 3S on such projections, the extended wire ends of these springs being also formed into loops which fit over the grooved heads 39, formed on the ends of the yoke-arms 34, as shown in Fig. 3, this ar- 8o rangement being intended to avoid the unnecessary friction and straining of the o0n nections.

40 is a shaft having bearings in the casing, to which shaft the forked lever l1 is connected 8 5 at its upper end.

el is a crank mounted on the outer end of this shaft and outside the casing 1, which operates the detents 42 of the ordinary register ing mechanism, which is inclosed in a casing 9o 43, removably attached to the meter-casing- Having thus indicated in detail the several parts of the mechanism, I will now proceed to describe its operation. p

The gas enters through the inlet 2 and 95 passes onward through the port 17 in the direction of the arrows and around through the passage-waye to the gas-chamber 7 on the lefthand side of the diaphragm, as shown in Fig.

2. rlhe expansion of the gas forces the diaroo phragm to the right, carrying with it the shoe la and the slotted arm 2S until such arm has moved the full length of its slot, when -it will contact with the pivot-pin 33 of the arm 29, carrying with it its connected yoke 34 onward until the arm 29 and yoke Se have passed a straight line with respect to each other. This movement thus far having been accomplished by the force-of the gas as against the tension of the springs 37, the latter will f then be free to exert their force and will opcrate to throw the yoke 34 to the left, such yoke at the same time striking the shoulders on the enlargement 35 of the val ve-rod, throwing the valve-rod with its Vvalves to the left, closing the ports 17 and 22, cutting ,off the upper part of the passage-way 4: and rallow A diaphragm until their center pivot has passed the line of the springs 37, when the valve-rod and its valves will be thrown to the right, bringing the springs back to their first position.

It will be seen by the construction and operation of the spring-controlledshifting mechF anism that the valves are always held firmly against the ports through the pressure of the yoke 35 on vthe shoulders of the valverod enlargement, and there is no chance whatever .of one ofl the ports remaining open and allowing the escape of 'gas,both valves being mounted von the same rod and operated by the same mechanism at one and lthe same time, and for this reason it makes no difference in what position the meter is set.

As will be observed in the construction of this meter the diaphragm is pierced, the valverod passing loosely through it. At the first glance it might seem that this would afford an outlet for the escape of gas under pressure 'from one chamber to the other; but it has been demonstrated by careful experiment that the gas will not escape, inasmuch as the pressure upon one side 'equals that upon the other, andthe amount of gas that would leak through is practically inappreciable, and no evil result whatever has followed from the passage of the rod through the diaphragm. By doingthis l accomplish the result of connecting the valves on either side, so that there Vis no independent action of either and no'danger of one valve moving without the other, thus affording au escape for the gas directly through the machine, for even if the lever-arm 29 and the yoke 34 'of the shifting mechanism `pause in av straight line or upon a balance the v'least particle of gas would disturb the balance and the springs would throw the Vvalves over'. y

The advantages of the construction herein described are several-namely, there is a con stant and regular tension at all times upon the valves, and therefore there can be no leakage of gas. Again, the throw or movement of the valve from one seat to the other is practicallyinstantaneous. Hence there is no loss of gas while the valve is traveling from one seat to the other-which is a common faultv with meters vof the ordinary description.

In these the movement of the valve is slow, or, as it is termed, lazy,7 and hence where a large quantityof gas is used there must necessarily be a considerable amount allowed to pass throughthevalveswithoutregistration,where asin my device the greater the duty the tighter the v'valves hold, and there can be no loss by leakage; neither can the valves be jarred from their seats.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

l. In a gas-meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts, inlet and outlet connections on opposite sides of such casing, aexible diaphragm centrally secured therein, inlet and i outlet valves seated in the partitions formed in the halves of the casing adjacent to the in.-

let and outlet openings, a va1verod passing through the diaphragm and connecting such inlet and outlet valves, adjusting springs coiled upon such rod for setting the valves, a -bolt passing 'through the diaphragm havin-g a central opening` through which the valverod looselyk passes, a shoe connected to one end of such bolt,a slotted arm pivoted to such shoe, and a spring-controlled lever pivoted at one end tothe casing and to a'yoke at the other fend which straddles the valve-rod, the pivotlpin of such levers passing through the Vslot of the arm connected to the diaphragm,where by the throw of the valve is automatically effected by the spring-lever mechanism when the lever has reached a certain point, all combined substantially as shown and described..

2. In a'gas-meter,a casing composed of ytwo equivalent parts, inlet andoutl'et openings on opposite sides thereof, 'a flexible diaphragm centrally secured therein, outlet and inlet valves seated in partitions formed'in the halves of the casing adjacent to the inlet and voutlet openings, such valves connected by a rod passing through the diaphragm for'securing their simultaneous action, a bolt passing through a central perforation in the diaphragrn and loosely mounted on the valve-rod, a lever lengaging with one end of such bolt and connected to a suitable registering mech- -anism Aat the other, and a spring-controlled lever mechanism 4pivotally connected vto the .opposite end of such boltv for automatically effecting the throw of the valves when the levers have passed their centers, substantially as shown and described.

3. Ina gas-meter, a casing composed of two equivalent parts, inlet and outletconne'ctions Yon opposite sides thereof, a single iieXible diaphragm centrally secured therein, such casing providing a channel for the passage-of gas through openings in and near the edgeof the diaphragm, inlet and outlet valves seated IOC in partitions formed in the halves of the casing adjacent to the inlet and outlet openings and connected by an adjustable valve-rod passing through a central opening in the diaphragm, and a spring-controlled lever mechanism connected to such rod and to the diaphragm for automatically effecting the throw of the valves when the jointed levers have passed their centers, all combined substantially as shown and described.

4:. In a gas-meter, an automatic lever -mechanism for effecting the throw of the valves, connected at one end to a rod uniting the in let and outlet valves and at the other to a diaphragm, composed, substantially, of an arm 29, pivoted at one end to the casing and at the other end to a yoke 34, such lever and yoke also connected on each side bya spring 37, a slotted arm 2S, such levers actuated by contact with such arm when operated by the movement of the diaphragm, whereby when the levers have reached a certain point the automatic tension of the springs serves to effect the throw of the valves, all combined substantially as shown and described.

5. A gas-meter comprising a hollow casing composed of two similar halves having inlet and outlet openings on opposite sides thereof, a tieXible diaphragm centrally secured between such halves, outlet and inlet valves seated in partitions formed in the casing adjacent to the outlet and inlet openings, an adjustable rod passing through the diaphragm, connected to such valves, and means,

such as a spring-lever mechanism, normally operating against the pressure of the gas upon the opposite side of the diaphragm, such levers controlled by springs that automatically effect the throw of the valves when the action of the diaphragm has carried the spring-levers beyond a certain point, in combination with a dial-registering mechanism connected with the casing and actuated by a lever connected on one side of the diaphragm, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a gas-meter, -inlet and outlet valves mounted on opposite ends of a rod passing centrally through the diaphragm, in combination with a spring-lever mechanism pivoted to the casing and bearing against a projection on the valve-rod, whereby a uniform tension is exerted upon the valves at all times, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a gas-meter, inlet and outlet valves connected by a rod passing through the diaphragm, and aj ointed lever pivoted to the casing, having a limited lateral movement controlled by the sprin gs and bearing against the valve-rod, whereby a tension is constantly exerted thereon, substantially as shown and described.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of March, 1891.

JAMES KNICKERBOCKER.

Witnesses:

II. D. NEALY, C. P. JACOBS. 

